Wednesday 13 February 2013

School takes to Twitter to prevent panic after 9 shoolboys were struck by lightning.

Johannesburg - King Edward VII School took to the social networking site, Twitter, on Tuesday to update parents after nine boys were struck by lightning.

Update 9 boys struck by lightning, 7 stable & 2 are under highcare. Full report to follow. Thank you for messages of support, the school wrote on its Twitter page.

A second update read: #KESBOARDINGPARENTS Please note all boarders are fine & safe. Only nine 1st Team cricketers affected. 7 are stable & 2 under high care.

The Gauteng education department said details about what had happened were not clear at this stage, but the boys were pulling covers onto the cricket field when lighting struck.

"The boys were taken to Milpark Hospital. Two are in ICU receiving high care," spokesperson Charles Phlalane said.

A security guard controlled entrance to the school on Tuesday evening, as parents went to fetch their children.

A school official, who did not want to be named said: "No comment at this stage from the school.

"Can all queries please be directed to the provincial education department."

Two Netcare 911 cars were seen leaving the school premises from the direction of the cricket field.

Schoolboys, dressed in cricket attire, were not speaking to anyone.

Phlalane said trauma counsellors would be sent to the school on Wednesday to speak to schoolchildren and teachers.


- SAPA/News24

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